Volunteers keep Fitchburg animal shelter afloat; so city sets up a way to help

FITCHBURG 
The city budgeted $22,000 this year for its animal shelter to cover the lease, supplies and the salary of a part time manager, but running the shelter costs much more and a new initiative may be able to help.

Amy J. Egeland, shelter manager, works part time 19 hours a week at the shelter. She knows doing the job right requires a full time manager on staff, so for now, she volunteers the extra time it takes to run the shelter.

If not for that, and the volunteer group Animal Care & Education, the shelter could not operate.

“If the city didn't have ACE, the shelter just wouldn't exist,” Ms. Egeland said. “They provide 100 percent of the food for cats and dogs, specialty diet foods, all the bedding, toys, professional dog trainers, evaluators, photography and additional funding when needed for emergency surgeries.”

The organization also donates leashes, grooming and cleaning supplies, and volunteer hours.

“They provide all of that,” she said, and estimated the donations and volunteer hours total about $90,000 to $100,000 a year.

“There would be no way to feed the animals if it wasn't for ACE and the support they give the city,” she said. “And, these dogs have the best of everything.”

After months of requests, the city still has not increased her hours, but the mayor and councilors recently approved the creation of the Animal Control Revolving Fund that would allow people to donate to the shelter when they register their dogs.

Residents can make a contribution of a dollar or more when they register their dog or just go into the city clerk's office to make a contribution directly.

City Clerk Anna Farrell helped create the new donation system.

“We're excited to support this opportunity for residents to help animals in our shelter,” Ms. Farrell said. “We love dogs and we're all animal lovers here.”

Donations are tax deductible, she added.

Next year, the city plans to remind residents about the fund in the census mailing, said Sally Cragin, co-founder and co-chairman, of ACE, and a poster about it is displayed in the city clerk's office.

“This is a creative and collaborative way of increasing public awareness about the good work the shelter does,” Ms. Cragin said. “Everyone at City Hall is an animal lover and this will be a great way of raising additional donations. People can make donations above their dogs' registration fees that will be syphoned off into a revolving fund.”

Ms. Egeland hopes donations to the fund will help stretch precious shelter dollars.

In 2012, the shelter took in around 300 dogs and cats, Ms. Egeland said.

“Out of that, 93 percent were either adopted, returned to their owner or placed in rescue groups.,” she said.

“Only 7 percent were lost because they were human aggressive, dangerous or sick and suffering. Other shelters euthanize 80 percent of the dogs that enter into the shelter. We are at the other end of the spectrum.”